Shalini Passi on her viral ‘affects my skin’ quote: I live by that mantra

Shalini Passi is the new OTT star, and there’s no denying that. Period.
Since ‘Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives’ dropped on Netflix, Passi has become the latest sensation, thanks to her unapologetic self-love and an attitude that screams zero regrets. Her statements on the show are grabbing all the attention, but one in particular has struck a chord with viewers: “The only reason I don’t hold grudges against other people is because it affects my skin.”
But is this really her mantra, or was it just a by-the-way remark?
In an exclusive interview with Ananya Bhattacharya, Editor, Features, India Today Digital, Passi shares that she genuinely lives by this philosophy; a statement that’s earning her widespread admiration, especially from women.
Watch the full interview here:

“This is something that I have lived by, and now, if you see, Ayurvedic doctors, practitioners—everyone agrees with this. If you’re stressed, certain body hormones are released, which actually lead to ageing and affect your sleep,” says Passi.
“So now, when I open Instagram or my team forwards something to me, it’s like there’s a practitioner talking about the benefits of having a positive outlook, not holding grudges, or avoiding speaking badly about people—all in relation to skin, health, and sleep. And then there are skincare brands saying the same, so it’s [her quote] kind of gone viral now,” she quips.
In the show, one episode that especially caught viewers’ attention was when Riddhima Kapoor Sahni—representing the Delhi contingent—spilled a glass of champagne on Shalini during a dinner with the girls in Mauritius (whether on purpose or not, you decide). Surprisingly, Passi didn’t react the way many expected her to; instead, she remained calm and collected.
Was her no-grudge philosophy at play here?
“Honestly, it’s not a fun feeling to be sitting there, wet, on the seaside with a breeze and everything,” she shares. “But my thought was, if I got up and walked off, then everybody in the cast, the production, and the camera team would have to wait for me for an hour. My thoughts were with the camera team, the sound people, and everyone behind the scenes. I was just thinking about everybody else rather than having a tantrum or sulking over what happened,” says Shalini.
Shalini adds that she has a higher purpose than simply “throwing a tantrum and making people feel bad”, and that she believes in karma, and doesn’t want to spoil hers.
Watch Shalini Passi’s full interview with India Today Digital here.